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Heart is the most vital organ of the body. Our survival depends on our heartbeat. Stoppage of heart means end of life. Moreover, heart is only one in body unlike kidneys, lungs, eyes, ear etc. which are in pairs providing lot of reserve for sustenance of life. Therefore heart requires utmost care and any negligence or delay in care can be life threatening.

Blockage occurs in these arteries because of deposition of cholesterol, a type of fat, in the walls of these arteries, called “atherosclerosis”. Some of the cholesterol gets deposited in these arteries with advancing age but certain factors in body accelerate this process of deposition of cholesterol in the blood vessels, called “Risk Factors”. The most common risk factor is high cholesterol levels, due to obesity. Other factors include hereditary, high blood pressure and diabetes. You’re never too young-or too old-to take care of your heart – So adopt a healthy life style and have regular checkups to detect and control your risk factors at the earliest.

Disorders and heart Rhythm:

Our heart beats regularly at the rate of 60-90 times per minute. Slowing of heart rate is called bradycardia and fast heart rate is called trachycardia. Excessive slowing may cause giddiness and transitory loss of consciousness (syncope). Such patient may require a pacemaker to increase their heart rate. Trachycardia(fast heart rate) usually requires elaborate investigation to find out the cause. Some of the patient may require an electrophysiological study (EPS) to detect an abnormal focus of tachycardia or an abnormal conduction tissue which can be permanently cured by radiofrequency ablation (RF Ablation).

Some of the patients of life threatening tachycardia (ventricular tachycardia) may require an implantation of a device to deliver shock to the heart in the event of tachycardia (AICD- Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator).

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is not able to pump sufficient amount of blood for the requirements of various organs of the body. Such patients have shortness of breath, palpitations or swelling in the legs. Heart failure mostly occurs because of weakening of heart muscle which may occur because of previous heart attack, valvularheart disease, congenital heart disease or intrinsic disease of the heart muscle called cardiomyopathy. Most of these patients are treated by medication. Some patients may be benefited by implantation of devices like CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) and Combo Device (CRT and AICD Combined in one device).

Everybody inhales a complex mixture of hyphal fragments, fungal spores, and yeasts daily. The species’ composition varies depending on the day and season, with the highest concentrations in late summer and early autumn. Fungi can damage their host through infection, ranging from superficial cutaneous infections to life-threatening invasive mycoses, by producing toxins, or by inducing allergic reactions.

The few species that have been detected in the upper and lower respiratory airways include yeasts, particularly Candida species, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species, with the latter constituting the most prominent cause of fungal lung infections. The Skin prick test and Specific IgE are most commonly used for the diagnosis of fungal sensitization.

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) accounts for 5%- 10% of all cases of chronic rhinosinusitis. Around 50% of AFRS patients are asthmatic. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA), or allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis are other spectrum of fungal infections. Treatment includes allergen avoidance, asthma treatment, antifungal and immunotherapy.